There is no obligation to overhaul your self-inflating lifejacket. Unlike the life raft, which follows a very precise overhaul circuit, lifejackets do not have this constraint.
Of course, all manufacturers recommend a visual check before each use. This includes checking expiry dates when they are present, such as on Hamar hydrostatic firing pins.
The French manufacturer Plastimo indicates in its catalogue that it is advised to bring back its vest in a service station every 2 years. But how do we know where we are with the last revision?
The German manufacturer SECUMAR refers to a local organisation, the FSR (German Federation of Equipment Manufacturers for Safety at Sea). This organism affixes a plastic pellet (which reminds us that of the automobile technical control) which indicates :
- The mention : " Next Service "
- The name of the manufacturer SECUMAR
- The year of the next revision in the center of the vignette: 2 digits (ex: for 2018 => 18)
- The numbers 1 to 12 represent the 12 months of the year. A notch around the thumbnail holder indicates the month of the next revision.
- Service station identification number (ex: SN300 = SECUMAR).
- The FSR mark indicates that the revision performed meets the strict requirements of the German FSR revision system.
Armed with this pellet, the yachtsman immediately sees if his vest is valid or not.
The SECUMAR review is important and includes:
- A leak test of the inflated float for 16 hours.
- An automatic trigger test when activated after immersion in water.
- An examination of the automatic trigger during manual activation.
- An examination of the mouthpiece.
- The insertion of a new cellulose tablet.
- Systematic change of seals.
- Examination of the seams and the front closure system.
- Visual control and weighing of the CO2 cartridge.
- Automatic release assembly with electronic torque control.
- The renewal of the revision and packaging sticker.
- Documentation and final control according to the quality management system (ISO 9001:2008).
- Even if it is not obligatory to be in order, this revision every 2 years is strongly recommended for all inflating vests. It does not matter if the lifejacket has been used or is as"new".
In France SECUMAR has set up a network of 10 revision stations (accessible from the SECUMAR website). The price of the revision is between 35 and 50 € according to the model of vest unless you prefer to have it revised directly in Germany at the head office (50,90 €).
